PAC-76 Two-Piece NATO
Description
The PAC-76 is a revival of the now by-gone era of military analog chronographs. Its distinct over-sized 12 and 6 indexes are both a legibility choice as well as a 70s esthetic choice ; the last decade of mechanical chronograph dominance. Our design pays homage to the bi-compax chronographs used mainly by the USAF & RAF. Back then, pilots would use the chrono function as a calculation tool on the fly for speed, fuel consumption and navigation.
Featuring increased the legibility through the use of varying textures, the PAC-76 is a modernized take on the original layout. Both debossed sub-dials have gotten a Vinyl texture while the main dial uses a popcorn texture reducing the risk of confusion when glancing at the watch. With embossed indexes as well, there’s plenty of volume to increase legibility.
The green two-piece NATO strap is a modern take on what most pilots would have been wearing back then: a full NATO. The two-piece version reproduces the look and feel of an original NATO without the added thickness it brings to the watch as the strap never passes under the case-back (since its a two-piece). This strap also underlines the truly military origins of the design - made to work on the field & in combat.
The PAC-76 Chronograph
A TRUE 7O'S FIELD WATCH REVIVAL
38 MM SPECS
Dial | Popcorn texture with Vinyl Sub-Dials - Super Luminova Indexes |
---|---|
Case Size/ Diameter |
38MM (without pushers) - K1 Sapphire Coated Crystal - 10 ATM |
Case Thickness Including Glass |
11.8 mm |
Case Material |
316L Stainless Steel |
Case Finish |
Brushed & Sandblasted with Polished Pushers |
Case Lug Width |
20mm |
Strap Width |
20mm |
Glass |
K1 Sapphire Coated Crystal |
Water Resistance |
10 ATM |
Movement |
VK 64 Mecaquartz |
CARE GUIDE
Thanks to our expertise & quality materials your watch will require very little day-to-day care. You can help preserve its lustre by washing the case and bracelet from time to time using soapy water and a soft brush. Before cleaning your watch, always ensure that the winding crown is properly pushed down to guarantee waterproofness.
The PAC-76 Chronograph
As stated in the collection name, the PAC-76 is a true 70s field chronograph initially designed with absolute functionality in mind. Despite its strong military origins, the PAC-76 is soaked in a 70s aesthetic - who said field watches couldn’t be fashionable? From the oversized 12 & 6 indexes to the funky PRAESIDUS logo on the caseback, you’ll have the look and feel of a watch revived from a bygone golden age of pilot chronographs and innovation.
The PAC-76 Chronograph
Our PAC-76 Chronograph strikes the perfect balance between legibility & functionality. As a bi-compax chronograph, it is always a difficult task to ensure legibility of the main face; we’ve focused on using varying dial textures to promote visibility. The embossed main indexes pop-out thanks to their added volume relative to the “popcorn” dial and are reinforced by patina lume points on the outer-edges of the dial. For the two debossed sub-dials, we’ve switched the texture from “popcorn” to vinyl adding a sharp contrast for such a packed dial.
The PAC-76 Chronograph
The PAC-76 comes from a clear lineage of bi-compax pilot chronographs used mainly by the Royal Air-force (RAF) before digital watches existed. In the 70s, the chrono function was especially useful for counting elapsed time precisely and using it for basic navigation, fuel consumption and speed calculations. We’ve gone for a Seiko VK64 Meca-Quartz chonrograph essentially getting quartz precision while conserving the second hand “sweep” feeling of a true mechanical chronograph.
Thanks to the VK-64 Meca-Quartz movement, the PAC-76 is only 11.3mm thick despite its box domed K1 crystal. Coming in at a very 70s size of 38,5mm diameter (with pushers) the watch wears incredibly well on the wrist despite its bicompax functions. The assymetrical case design also serves to protect the pushers from side impacts adding to the resilience of the overall watch in the field.
Thanks to the VK-64 Meca-Quartz movement, the PAC-76 is only 11.3mm thick despite its box domed K1 crystal. Coming in at a very 70s size of 38,5mm diameter (with pushers) the watch wears incredibly well on the wrist despite its bicompax functions. The assymetrical case design also serves to protect the pushers from side impacts adding to the resilience of the overall watch in the field.